Combined starting and reversing switch



. v Nm; Eby 1932. V. @3. AWLE 1,388,062

CMBINED STRTKG AND REVERSNG S'TH Filed Fab. 1l, 1.929 2 Sheets-15mm 'lwir@ Patented Nov. l5, 1932 entre lerares VINCENT aPrLE, or DAYTON,OHIO, .-iss'IeN-on 'ro BnNp'iXjBnAizn 'coiirNY,-'r

"SOUTH linnn, inninna, A CORPORATION or i'L'LINos COMBINED eren-'zineAND isvi/'Iren Application filed February 11, 1929. Serial'Nb. 338,975.

This invention rela-tes to switches trolling electrically operableaccess automotive vehicles.

An object ot the invention to provide a simple switch having contactmeans operable to malte connections from a source of electricalenergy toa motor to revolve the motor in a certain direction to accomplish onepurpose, and other Contact means adapted to connect the motor foropposite running forr another purpose whenever the sv itch is in itsnatural inoperative position.

Another object is to provide a simple, inexpensiveand effectivestructure for carrying the lirst object into effect.

This invention relates primarily to the construction of the switchmechanism here shown as adapted for the 4various purposes set forth andcomprises a hollow insulation casing molded in situ about a pluralityot' terminals having Contact ends arranged within the casing, incombination with pairs of flexible curved metal rstan'iiing connectors,arranged on opposite sides of the terminals within the casing, removedaxially through the casing as a unit to `bring one pair or the other ofsaid connectors into contact with one side or the other of saitterminals to bridge said terminals in pairs, the arrangement ot whichdepends upon which iair of connectors performs the bridging operation.

Many other objects and meritorious features of theinventicn will bereadily apparei. to those s illed in the art to which the inventionappertains., from a consideration ot the following description, taken inconjunction with the drawings wherein- Figs. l and are diagrams of myswitch connected to control a battery, driven series nic-tor, Fig. lshowing the switch in its operative position and Fig. 2 in its normalinoperative position.

Figs. 3 and 4 show a plan and an edge view respectively of one of theswitch terminals.

Figs. .G are a plan and side view respecaivelyof themolded switch bodywith terminals "imbedded therein.

Figs. 7 Vand 8 are a plan andan edge view pectivcly of one of theterminal connec- 9 and l0 are a plan Vand edge respectively ot theconnector carrier. ll and l2 are assemblies'ofcarries connectors.

`gs 13 Vand 14 `'are plan and 'elevation iv ot the pedal stem.

is a plan View of 'thecompleted 18 to 22 are vertical ysections takenrough Fig. 17 at -18-18 'to 22-22"respectively.

23 and 24'a`re't`alen on thesame section lines as 21-21 'and 22e-22lrespectively h the switch in the position illustrated ammatically inFig. l. K

The embodiment of 'my invention herein shown for villustrative purposesisjadapted to provide two circuits' through a battery l driven seriesmotor, the one circuit to revolve the ino'- tor in the one directionforcranking 'theengine'ot an automotive vehicle, andthe'othe'r circuitfori-evolving the motor inthe other-direction for applyingthe'vehicle'brakes. 'But since it is neithernece'ssary nor desirable'tohave the brakes applied all'tiines that'the engine is not being cranked,a separate'switch is preferablyconnected in the brakel applying circuitto make rotation of the motor in'its brake applying directionvolitional.

Figs. l and 2 are'diagramrhatic fillustrations of my switch and itsconnections tothe motor and batti'ery,`with the separateswitch'in thebrakeapplying circuit, Fig. 'l "showing how the switchterminals areconnected for cranking when'the switch is depressed, and Fi 2 showinghow they are'connected for bre-.itin g when the switch is released.

Feiierring to Figs. land 2, my improved switch l2() comprises abodyl'22,'fourtermi nals 124e, 1245, l24cand l241cZ,'mean`s 126e and126?) within the switch body to .join terminals 12st and l24fl -`and rtoground terminal 12ste when the Iswitch'is'depreassed for cranking as inFig. 1,- yand means 1260 and lfl within the switch. body to. joinfterminals 1246i to 124e and 124?) tol24d when the switch is released toits norinal inoperative position. v The separate switch 128 is effectiveto control braking only when switch is in its normal position showninfFig. 2. The battery and series motor elements illustrated by standardsymbols are connected to the switch terminals by suitable cables asshown.

1n the actual structure of switch 120, shown diagrammatically in Figs. 1and 2, l provide metal terminals 124 shown in plan view Fig. 3 and edgeview Fig. 4. A bolt hole 130 at the out-er ends of each terminalfacilitates attachment of the cables to the terminals. A knurled orotherw'se roughened baud 182 surrounds each terminal near its middleportieri to improve its connection to the switch body.

The tour terminals 124e, 1246, 1230 and 1246Z are placed in a Vmold anda ring 134 of insulation is molded about the terminals at theirroughened portions to hold them rigid and in suitably spaced relation.The ring 134 forms the body of the switch and has a rabbet 136 extendingaround its periphery at each end (see Figs. 5 and 6).

In act-ual practice the connectors. designated in Figs. 1 and 2 as1260i, 1266, 1260 and 1266K, consist of stampings 126, preferably ofspring sheet copper, shown in detail in plan view lig. 7 and edge viewFig. 8, cut to the outline 138 and bent to the curved contour 140. Asquared opening 142 extends through the center of each connector.

To hold the severalconnectors 126 suitably spaced apart and insulatedfrom each other l provide the carrier 144 shown in plan view Fig. 9 andedge view Fig. 10. Carrier 144 is composed of insulation, preferablymolded to form, and has the metal insert 145 imbedded therein. Squaredtenons 146 extend from one side as shown.

Two connectors 126 are assembled with a carrier 144 by placing thesquared openings 142 over the squared tenons 146 as shown in Fig. 11. Itthen the assembly Fig. 11 is entered from the top into the assembly Fig.5

so that the center line 148 is on the center line 150, and the assemblyFig. 11 is pressed downward against terminals 124e, 1246, 1240 and 12463until the curved contour of connectors 126 is straightened out againstthe bottom of carrier 144 the condition required in Fig. 1 ofelectrically connecting terminal 1248 to 1241i is adequately fulfilled,and it some provision is made for grounding insert the terminal 1240;will be grounded as there required.

Besides the assembly Fig. 11, a similar assembly Fig. 12 is provided.The assembly' Fig. 12 comprises two of the connectors 126 and a carrier144e similar to144 except that insert 145 is omitted. This assembly Fig.12 is entered from the bottom into the assembly Fig. 5 so that centerline 148 comes on the center line 152. It it is then pressed upwardagainst terminals124a, 1246, 1240 and 1246i until the curved contour 140of connectors 126 is straightened out against thetop of carrier 144@ thecondition required in Fig. 2 of electrically connecting terminals 124eto 1240 and 124cZ is fulfilled. The llattening out of the curve 140 otthe connectors against the terminals produces a wiping contact actiontending to keep the contact surfaces clean. n

To keep assembly Fig. 11 and assembly Fig. 12 correctly spaced withinassembly Fig. 5, the spacer 154 shown in plan view Fig. 13 and edge viewFig. 14 is provided. This spacer is placed within assembly Fig. 5 in theplane oi. the terminals 124e, 1246, 1240 and 12466 Assemblies Figs. 11and 12 are then entered into the assembly Fig. 5, one trom the top andthe other Jfrom the bottom, on opposite sides of the spacer.

rl`he spacer 154 has depressions 156 to clear the curved face 140 ofconnectors 126.

A metal plate 158 has an upwardly extending stem 160 and tour tappedholes 162. (See plan view Fig. 15 and edgeview Fig. 16). Four screws 64extend through the tour holes 166 ot plate 144, of spacer 154 and plate144ey into tapped holes 162 to tie the entire movable part of theswitch' together (see Figs. 17, 18 and 19). A pedal tread 168 attachedto the upper end ot the stem 160 provides means whereon foot power maybc applied to depress the movable part ot th switch and a spring 170 isadapted to return it to its normal position. The heads ot' screws 164extend through openings in the bottom of the switch to prevent rotativebut to permit axial movement of the operable portion of the switch.

Covers 172 and 174 lit over'rabbets 136 at each end ol ring 134 tocompletely enclose the contact members. Two bolts 176 y(see Fig. extendthrough the covers and ring only, while two others 178 (see Fig. 18)extend through the covers and ring and also through the switchsupporting bracket 180.

The sectional views Figs. 18 to 22 inclusive show the switch in itsnormal inoperative position with the upper pair of connectors 126aand1266 curving downward but separated from terminals 124, and the lowerpair of connectors 1260 and 1266i flattened against the underside of theterminals. ln this position the switch malres the connections shown inthe diagram Fig. 2.

The sectional views Figs. 23 and 24 show the switch in the depressedstarting position with the upper pair of connectors 126e and 1266flattened against the upper side of the terminals 124 and the lower pairof connectors 1260 and 126cZ curving upward but separated from theterminals. In this position the switch makes the connections shown indiagram Fig. 1, the ground connection there shown being made throughconnector 1266, insert 145, a screw 164, plate v158, cover 172 tobracket 180 and thus to the vehicle frame.y

While in the foregoing I indicate that my improved switch maybeadvantageously employed where it is desired to use an electric motor onan automotive vehicle, both for starting the engine and for applying thebrakes, it will be understood that the switch has many otherapplications. For inst-ance by eliminating the separate switch 128 Figs.l and 2, the motor would revolve oppositely to its starting directionwhenever the switch 12() was not being depressed for starting. Such anarrangement would be suitable where the starting motor was to berevolved baelwardly to drive a fan or a supercharging blower. Or, bysubstitutiing an automatic pressure operable switch for the switch L28the motor could be madel to serve the twofold purpose of starting theengine and then pumping into a pressure tanl; only when the pressure inthe tank falls below a predetermined value.

Vilhat I claim is:

l. In an electric switch, the combination of a substantially closed bodyhaving terminal members insulated from each other extending inwardlythrough the sides of the body and from its inner wall substantiallymidway et its length, connectors within the said body between the saidterminals and the one end adapted to engage the said terminals toconnect certain ofthe said terminals in pairs, connectors within thesaid body between the said terminals and the other end adapted to engagethe said terminals to connect certain other of the said terminals inother pairs, and means to move the said connectors to engage the saidterminals.

2. In an electric switch, the combination of a substantially closed bodyhaving terminal members insulated from each other extending inwardlythrough the sides of said body and from its inner wall substantiallymidway of its length to divide the interior of the body into twocompartments, a set of terminal connectors in each said compartment,each adapted to be moved into engagement with said terminals, the oneset to connect certain l of the said terminals in pairs and the otherset to connect certain other of the said terminals in pairs, meansconnecting the said sets of connectors for simultaneous movement the oneset to go into engagement with said terminals when the other goes out,and means to move the connecting means in both directions.

3. In an electric switch, a hollow body of molded insulation havingterminal members molded in situ in the walls of the body and extendinginwardly from the inner wall substantially midway of its length, amember of insulating material endwise movable in said body carrying twosets of terminal connectors, the one set being positioned between thesaid terminals and one end of said body and the othersetbeing positionedbetween the said terminals and the other end of said body, manual meansto move said member in the one direction to engage one set of saidconnectors with certain of said terminals and resilient means to'returnsaid member to engage the other set of said connectors with certainother of said terminals.

4. An electric switch comprising, in combination,a molded annularinsulation casing, a plurality of pairs of circumferentially spacedapart terminals imbedded in the casing and extending radiallytherethrough intermediate its ends, a carrier plate arranged within thecasing on one side of saidterminals and provided with connectors adaptedto bridge said terminals in pairs, a carrier plate arranged within thecasing on the opposite side of said terminals and provided withconnectors adapted to bridge the same terminals in the other pairs.

5; An electric switch comprising, in combination, a hollow insulationcasing having two pairs of terminals imbedded therein and cX- tendinginto the interior thereof, two pairs of connectors arranged within thecasing and insulated from each other but secured together for movementas a unit and positioned one pair upon one side of the terminals and theother pair upon the opposite side of the terminals, means operable tomove said connectors axially through the casing in one direction tocause one pair of connectors to bridge said terminals in pairs, andmeans yieldingly holding said connectors as a unit normally in theopposite direction to cause said other pair of connectors to bridge saidterminals in the other pairs.

6. Anl electric switch comprising, in combination, a plurality ofterminals insulated from each other and spaced apart, a pair ofconnectors arranged upon' each side of the terminals and supportedintegrally for movement as a unit toward and away from the terminals tobring one pair or the other into engagement with the terminals to bridgesaid terminals in pairs.

7. An electric switch having two pairs of terminals arranged insubstantially the same plane and two pairs of connectors arranged onepair upon one side of the terminals and the other pair upon the oppositeside thereof, means normally yieldingly holding said connectors as aunit in one direction substantially perpendicularly to the plane of theterminals and to bridge said terminals in pairs Vto close a circuitthrough the switch, and means operable to move said connectors as a unitin the opposite direction against said yielding means to bridge saidterminals in the other pairs to close a circuit through the switch.

8. An electric' switch comprising', in combination, a hollow insulationcasing. having a plurality of terminals imbedded therein and extendinginto the interior thereof,two pairs of curved flexible sheet metalconnectors arranged within the casing one pair upon kone side of theterminals and the other pair upon the opposite side thereof andconnected together as a unit and insulated from each other, meansholding said connectors normally in one direction as a unit to cause onepair of connectors to bridge the terminals in pairs, said connectorsadapted to be moved manually in the opposite direction against theresistance of said yielding means to cause the other pair of connectorsto b-ridge the terminals in the other pairs.

9. An electric switch comprising, in combination, a hollow insulationcasing, a plurality of terminals imbedded therein and extending into theinterior thereof, av pair of flexible connectors arranged within thecasing on each side of the terminals, said connectors being curved fromthe middle to the ends toward the terminals and insulated from eachother and mounted for movement as a unit axially through the casing tobring one pair or the other into engagement with one side or the otherof said terminals bridging them in pairs.

10. An electric switch comprising, in combination, a plurality of pairsof terminals having roughened intermediate portions, an insulationcasing molded in situ about said intermediate portions, a pair ofconnectors supported for movement within said casing and adapted tobridge distinct pairs of terminals, and means for simultaneously movingsaid connectors. n

l1. In an electric switch, the combination of an insulation casingmolded in situ about the intermediate portions of a plurality ofterminal members, a member supported for axial movement within saidcasing, and a pair of connecters secured within said casing to saidaxially movable member Y on opposite sides of the terminal members, eachconnector of said pair being concave on its side adjacent the terminalsand adapted to flatten thereagainst to wipe thereover upon makingcontact therewith.

12. An electric switch comprising, in combination, a casing, a pluralityof pairs of terminals carried thereby and exposed within the casing, aconnector assembly movably sup'- ported within the casing having spacedapart connectors arranged on opposite sides of said terminals andmovable asa unit on a line normal to said terminals to bring theconnectors on opposite sides of said terminals respectively into contacttherewith to bridge the terminals.

13. An electric switch comprising, in combination, a casing, a pluralityof pairs of terminals carried thereby and exposed within the casing, aconnector assembly supported for reciprocal endwise movement through thecasing and "provided with connectorsV insulated irom each other andarranged on opposite sides of said terminals, means normally holding theconnector on one side of the terminals in contact therewith to bridgeone pair of terminals, said connector assembly movable as a unit tobreak said contact and move the other connector to bridge another pairof terminals. p

11i. In an electric switch having a pair of terminal Contacts, and amovable part provided with a pair of oppositely curved resilientconnectors arranged on opposite sides of said terminal contacts andmovable respectively into engagement therewith to be flattenedthereagainst to wipe thereover.

In testimony whereof, I sign this speciication.

VINCENT G. APPLE.

IZLI

